allegory

noun
UK: /ˈælɪɡɔːri/
US: /ˈælɪˌɡɔːri/

  1. A story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

    1. The story is an allegory about World War II. [ ] [ ]
    2. Pilgrim's Progress is a famous allegory of the Christian journey through life, fraught with dangers. [ ] [ ]

  2. A symbolic representation; an extended metaphor.

    1. The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory for justice. [ ] [ ]
    2. In many cultures, the changing seasons serve as an allegory for the cycle of life and death. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

parable metaphor symbol representation

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "allegory" in English means: A story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one., A symbolic representation; an extended metaphor..

The phonetic transcription of "allegory" is /ˈælɪɡɔːri/ in British English and /ˈælɪˌɡɔːri/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "allegory": parable, metaphor, symbol, representation.

Example usage of "allegory": "The story is an allegory about World War II.". More examples on the page.